Chapter no 21 – 22

Chapter no 21

The protagonist encounters a mysterious and sensual stranger whose presence exudes lethal grace and power. His pale skin, raven-black hair, and striking violet eyes captivate her, yet his predatory demeanor and probing questions fill her with unease. Though she tries to lie about her presence at the Fire Night ritual, his sharp wit and knowing smiles unravel her attempts. The stranger, unmasked and from another court, radiates danger, but he also exudes a magnetism that leaves her torn between fear and intrigue. His cryptic warnings to “stay out of trouble” only deepen the air of mystery surrounding him.

After escaping the stranger, she stumbles into Lucien, who is furious at her disobedience and swiftly removes her from the celebration. He explains the Great Rite, where Tamlin, consumed by powerful magic, takes on the role of the Hunter to find a faerie maiden for a sacred union that regenerates the land’s magic and life. Lucien’s chilling description of Tamlin’s transformed state and the primal need driving him fills her with dread. The realization that Tamlin could have claimed her in his feral state leaves her shaken, as does the suggestion that even Lucien’s authority might not have been enough to stop him.

Later, alone in the manor, she wrestles with conflicting feelings of anger, fear, and curiosity. The drumming ritual’s conclusion keeps her awake until she finally ventures into the hall for a midnight snack, only to encounter Tamlin. Painted with ceremonial symbols, his primal energy and raw magic overwhelm her senses. His presence is intoxicating yet terrifying, and he corners her, expressing his frustration at her absence during the ritual. His words are both a warning and a confession of his desire, leaving her caught between anger and an undeniable attraction.

Tamlin’s feral behavior escalates as he pins her against the wall and bites her, marking her neck with a possessive intensity. The moment is charged with a volatile mix of passion and fury, and the protagonist struggles to balance her growing desire with her frustration at his dominance. Despite the heat between them, her defiance flares, leading her to slap him and assert her independence. Tamlin’s reaction—half amusement, half frustration—only fuels the tension between them, as the encounter exposes the primal and unpredictable nature of their connection.

The night leaves her reeling, her emotions a whirlwind of desire, anger, and confusion. Both the mysterious stranger and Tamlin’s wild behavior highlight the dangers of Prythian, where magic and passion intertwine with violence and power. Her encounter with Tamlin reveals the depth of his feelings and the primal bond forming between them, but it also underscores the risks of her involvement in a world that operates on instincts and rituals beyond her understanding.

Chapter no 22

The morning after Fire Night, the protagonist wakes feeling empty and aching, a bruise from Tamlin’s bite stark on her neck. Deciding not to conceal it, she brazenly leaves it visible as a form of defiance. When she joins Tamlin and Lucien for lunch, tension brews as she calls attention to the bruise and accuses Tamlin of acting like a brute. Lucien, amused by the exchange, fails to mask his laughter. Tamlin, while calm on the surface, seethes with restrained anger over her disobedience during the Rite. Their heated conversation leads her to storm off, finding relief through painting exaggerated portraits of Tamlin and Lucien as pigs, which eventually softens her mood.

That evening, Tamlin and the protagonist reconcile during dinner, where he offers an apology and a bouquet of white roses from his parents’ garden. This gesture warms her, and for the first time in a long while, she sleeps peacefully. The next evening, dressed in a beautiful gown with Alis’s help, she decides to step out of her comfort zone. Despite her nervousness, she joins Tamlin and Lucien at the dinner table, where Tamlin’s playful use of magic transforms their seating arrangement to make her feel closer. The moment highlights his effort to charm and reassure her, though the strain of his diminishing power due to the blight remains evident.

Later, the protagonist brings Tamlin to her private painting room, sharing a piece she created for him—a rendering of the glen with the pool of starlight. While Tamlin admires her work, he becomes captivated by her other paintings, particularly those depicting her harsh life in the mortal world. These reveal the depths of her struggles, including her father’s brutal beating and her fleeting escape with Isaac. Tamlin’s understanding and empathetic reaction touch her deeply, and his request for the painting of her forest signifies his connection to her past and his own burdens as High Lord.

Their conversation turns vulnerable as the protagonist pleads with Tamlin to let her help with the mysterious blight affecting Prythian. Though he admits there’s nothing she can do, he confesses his selfishness in keeping her close, unable to let her go even when he felt he should. Tamlin’s honesty about his past lovers and the emptiness they left contrasts with his recognition of her unique ability to understand him, her presence reminding him that he’s not alone. The emotional intimacy between them deepens as he acknowledges the solace she brings him.

That night, the protagonist does not lock her door, marking a turning point in her relationship with Tamlin. Their connection, forged through shared vulnerabilities, trust, and mutual recognition of each other’s scars, signals a growing closeness. The tension between their mortal and faerie worlds lingers, but the walls between them begin to crumble as they both accept the comfort they find in one another.